Satellite Ballroom

A band playing the wrong venue can be a disaster. If your band is more of a rock’n'roll band and you decide to play a blues venue, venue regulars might not enjoy the show. Also, if your band plays too big or small of a venue there are going to be crowd issues. Choosing an appropriate venue for your band is a constant issue.

First, research venues. Most venues have websites or social media profiles that explain what type of musical acts the venue usually hosts. If the venue hosts a variety of musical acts across genres, you and your band can probably book a show there. However, if the venue more often than not has concerts for specific musical genres, you will need to make sure that the venue caters to your music.

Secondly, always ask friends in other bands for their recommendations. By the time you are booking your own gigs, you will most likely have played with other bands and befriended their members or their management team. Even if you regularly play with certain bands, chances are those bands have played their own shows in their own touring schedules, both locally and regionally. Asking them for advice might offer you good insight on what venues are appropriate for your band.

Third, look at gig resources websites. Gig resources websites help a band out by giving a resource guide to all types of venues. This is especially helpful if your band wants to tour, but none of you know what venues are the best to play. Good venues are often found in small towns that you may overlook. Gig guides can help you find unique locations that cater to the size of your audience or your musical genre.

Fourth, do not over-stretch yourself. Some bands may have the attitude that they would play any gig for any price. Although this sounds ideal, you might not be networking your band well with this approach. Playing a friend’s house on a Friday for little or no money when you could have invested time to book a big show on a Friday with some pay is a poor decision. A big show could network your music more than a small house party. It is fine to be available to play any gig, but do not play anywhere for any price all the time.

Finally, try to be realistic. Say your band is an upstate New York band and your dreams are to play a big gig at a popular place in New York City. However, all you have played is in and around the upstate region. If you are venturing into the City, you need to be realistic on what kind of venues you have to play based on your popularity. If you want to play a 1200 person music venue and you never played in New York City before, this might not be a wise choice. This does not only apply for space size, but also the popularity of the gig. Before the venue closed, one could argue CBGB was a quintessential New York City club to play. If you and the band only dream of playing CBGB, you could have your dreams dashed by an unenthusiastic crowd, a small crowd, or a crowd that hates your music. Also, any legendary music space changes overtime and might not be as emotionally charging playing as you thought.

If you are considering a full-time professional music career, you will need more than just talent and luck. Be prepared for hard work, serious commitment, and maybe a few obstacles. Depending on which musical genre you work within, you may also need substantial formal education to reach your goals. On the other hand, you might prefer a less official route to profiting from your melodic gift.

So, how does the amateur or unsigned musician turn their abilities into money while honing their craft or waiting for their big break? Take heart. There are many ways to get paid for what you love to do, and the opportunities extend to all types of musicians. If you are proficient in notation, you could offer your services as a music teacher. Even the great Rachmaninoff taught piano to young students.

A singer, band or instrumentalist can network both online and offline to land paying gigs at local venues. Check out all of the places in your town that might feature live performances.
Don’t overlook hotels, spas, comedy clubs, festivals and public events as possible sources of work. Your local music store may have a bulletin board where interesting opportunities are posted.

Take advantage of every opportunity you can to set up a gig at a local bar or restaurant.  Sometimes places will let you perform for free and sometimes, if you’re good enough, they will pay you for your musical performance.  Either way will help in the long run.  You can even sell CD’s, posters, t-shirts and any other merchandise.  Most venues will allow you to sell band merchandise but make sure to check with management before you do.

Social networking sites allow musicians a way to not only showcase their talents and promote themselves, but also to meet other musicians and keep in step with the heart of both the local and national music scene. The more connections you have, the better. Knowing the right people can lead to very profitable freelance work.

Search your local newspaper for any advertisements relating to music. There may be a church in need of a pianist, or a local band looking for a new drummer. Weddings are planned year-round, and these ceremonies frequently call for live music of various types.

If there is a recording studio in your area, apply for a job there. Even if you are only sweeping the floors, you might gain some valuable insight into the recording business and may meet knowledgeable people who could become friends, mentors, or even employers. Let as many people as possible know that you are a musician for hire. Don’t be too proud to take a temporary job as a back-up singer or stand-in musician if you get the chance. Showing your ability to work well with other musicians can be lucrative in the long run.

There is vast potential for finding musical “odd jobs” online. Video producers need audio content for their short films. Advertisers might be looking for original material too, although traditional commercial jingles are not as widely used as they were in the past.

Many musicians choose to self-publish their albums and distribute them digitally. If you can produce good material, and you learn a little about online marketing, you can make money by selling your own music, even without a recording contract. If you are successful, you can extend the business to producing related merchandise, such as clothing branded with your band’s name or logo.

If your music has niche value, find your target audience and make yourself known. Join music-related forums and contribute to them often. Protect yourself by learning the specifics of copyright legislation. Follow these laws carefully. Always conduct yourself in a professional and ethical manner, whether you are dealing with fellow musicians, mentors, clients, or fans.

No matter how good the music, today’s bands have to communicate with their fans. If you are part of a new band and have not established an Internet presence, do it now. If you are starting a new band, while you are preparing for performances, start getting your potential fans involved with an exciting website.

There are several things your website needs to do for you. Take the time to learn about how to create a website for your band. There are several essential things the site should do.

* Collect information for a mailing list so you can keep your fans up-to-date. This also gives you a captive audience that wants your attention and wants to spend money on what you offer – your music.
* Have rockin’ biographies about each member of the band. Your fans want to know about you.
* Provide samples of your work to drive up sales. People like to hear a part of a song before they buy.
* Have a store that sells things fans will want to buy. This is free advertising for your band. The more people walking around in hats and t-shirts with your name, the better for you.
* Create a calendar that shows all your upcoming gigs. Your fans want to know where you are especially if you are going to be in their area.
* Let members know what individuals in your group are doing. Some members may be involved in other projects. Fans like to keep up with their favorites.
* Start a blog so that fans can talk about your music. You can chime in, too. This keeps the buzz alive, and that is exactly what you want.
* Sell advertising space to events or merchandise that would be of interest to your fans. If your band plays jazz, jazz venues might want to advertise on your site.
* Have links to sites of interest to your fans, and make sure those sites link back to you. This is a valuable way of moving up in search engines that is legitimate and attracts the right kind of attention.
* Make sure appropriate meta tags are included in the code. This is a quick, easy way to get the attention of search engines without being obnoxious.
* Include links to articles about your band, and keep a copy in case they go away. If there is a good review, you want everyone to know it. If the review is bad, well, you could conveniently “forget” it.
* Be extremely visually appealing. Invest in graphic art. People react to visual stimulation, and your fans are no exception. Make it memorable. You don’t want your fans to have a chance to forget you.
* Provide a way for fans to contact you, and be responsive in some way. Have automatic responses to email. You might need a staff to keep up with communication if you are getting thousands of emails a day. Fans like to feel they are part of the overall experience. Don’t make the mistake of forgetting that.

If you’re “all about the music,” it still makes sense to put up a website. That attitude is something you want to share with your fans, and a website is the most efficient and cost-effective way. When you develop your website, keep fans in mind. Make sure they “get it.” Keep the site true to your musical objectives.

If you do the right job with your website, the results will be music to your ears. Make sure you understand how to create a website for your band.

Riddle me this. Who is the most important person in a room who is invisible when they are doing their job right? The answer is the DJ. The goal of any good DJ is to please the crowd with music that matches the tastes of most the people at an event. Once a DJ becomes established, they can get away with introducing some new material and maybe even some original mixes and potentially trendsetting sounds. There are few ways to become a DJ.

Get Schooled

One way to become a DJ is to take a music production class. This way you learn about sound mixing and the technology behind putting rhythms and beats together in an appealing way. There are schools that offer courses specific to becoming a DJ. Some of these classes are offered online. Some of these classes include instruction by real disc jockeys currently working in the industry. This is great for getting some hands-on experience and advice from people doing what you want to be doing.

Tip: Some community colleges have courses in music production and DJ mixing with minimal attendance fees. Some larger universities may offer free classes to students.

Get the Right Equipment

If you are going to be a DJ on a regular basis you will need the right equipment. This includes turntables, headphones, speakers, CD players, Mp3 players and a mobile case to transport your equipment from one gig to the next. The equipment you choose depends on you plan to use your DJ skills. If you are going to be a club DJ, most clubs have their own base DJ setup that includes a CD player setup, turntables, speakers and sometimes lighting mixers and other equipment to put on an entertaining show. If you are going to perform mostly parties and solo gigs, you will likely need a carrying case and your own portable system. Another option is to bring your laptop and mix some mp3s on it and put on a show that way.

Tip: Buy your equipment used to start and upgrade to more professional equipment once you become established and know this is what you want to do.

Know the Music

As a DJ, you will need to have a basic knowledge of several genres of music. As a general rule, you should know some hit songs from multiple genres. These are likely to be the ones a crowd will instantly recognize and want to hear. Common genres for a DJ include: house, techno, dance, trance, break-beat, hardcore, down-tempo, electronica, hip-hop, dubstep and drum and bass. Match the music to the event or venue.

Develop Your Own Style

Every DJ is not the same. Remember that as a DJ you are not the star, the music should be center stage. Learn to step back and let the people enjoy the music and the moment. Constantly talking before and after songs will get annoying fast. Learn techniques to pick up a party that has become dull. Taking requests is a good way to engage the crowd. Learn some party games to retain the interest of the crowd. The more people are engaged, the more memorable the experience will be for them. This, in turn, makes you more likely to be asked back.

Start Small

Start with a few small gigs. Offer your services at a lower price than an established DJ would charge. You may find yourself performing at birthday parties or senior dances, but you will gain experience and get your name out there. It takes time to become established as a DJ, but it can a rewarding career or hobby.

Being an audiophile or even an occasional listener to music can prove to be costly. There is always new music coming out, so it is hard to keep up with this. There are a number of different ways to find great deals on music. Some may take more effort than others, but the savings and the great music that will be obtained are certainly worth it.

Used Music Stores

There are many stores that either specialize in used music or have a section of used CD’s, tapes and records. Depending on the size of the store and what you are specifically looking for, there may or may not be a good selection. Most times, the employees at these stores are very interested in music, so they will be able to recommend new or different artists and bands that might be interesting.

A nice option at many of these used stores would be the ability to trade in old music. This is a great way to get rid of music that is no longer enjoyer and get a great discount on new tunes. These stores will usually offer store credit instead of cash so that you spend the money at the store. If just looking to get rid of the CD’s outright, a pawn shop is usually best for this.

Monthly Clubs

There are several monthly music clubs that have been around for a while and are actually quite a good way to get inexpensive music.These programs are usually free to join and you are able to initially get a large number of CD’s. The only stipulation is usually that you have to pay for shipping and are then required to buy at least one more CD at regular price to fulfill the membership agreements. The initial CD’s that are sent out are always a great deal, then it is just a matter of looking for special promotions and sales. The normally priced CD’s are not a great deal, but there will be sales where there are buy one get one free discounts or other such savings. Being mindful of the promotions can get you great deals on music.

Online Music Sharing

A variety of online social sites offer music sharing. Depending on the site, there may be inexpensive subscription fees or there may be a cost when downloading songs. Depending on the site, this is usually a decent way to get inexpensive or sometimes free music. Before signing up for any service, it is important to fully understand the terms of the site so that you do not violate any music sharing laws. Also, you should do some research online to ensure that it is a reputable site before becoming a member.

Trading and Auction Sites

Online sites that offer for sale listings or the ability to online auctions are a great place for inexpensive music. Most times, people are looking to mainly get rid of the music, so prices are quite inexpensive. With any of these sites, there are two important things to keep in mind. The first would be that a return policy is important. If you purchase a CD that is scratched, you want to be able to return it for a refund. Secondly, look at shipping costs before bidding or accepting a sale. These costs can be quite high in some cases and drive up the price of that inexpensive CD. Otherwise, these sites are great for getting cheap music.

There is a lot of great music out there. Building up your music collection does not have to be costly. You just need to know the right places to look.

For many people, music is a part of daily life. From listening to the radio on the drive to work or using an mp3 player at the gym, music has permeated our lives and culture. While music has long been enjoyed for its entertaining purposes, there are many other ways that music can be beneficial. Music affects the body in several ways, some of these ways include:

1. An improvement in brain damage that has occurred. Music has been shown the improve the brain damage in patients who have experienced a stroke, brain legion or other trauma to the brain. Those who have lost the partial ability to see or speak may be able to retrieve some of the functions that have been lost. Patients are able to change the way the brain interprets information by using singing to replace the traditional language use. The brain is re-trained in a way and this change allows patients to improve their ability to communicate with speech. Pleasurable music also released dopamine in the brain which leads to a pleasant feeling.

2. Performing a musical piece can be used as an effective distraction for those trying to recover with some type of addiction. While playing music, the neurotransmitters are activated in the brain. They are also activated in the brain when some uses drugs, although the reaction is quite different. Listening to enjoyable music can also be greatly useful for those enduring the detox phase when dealing with addiction recovery.

3. Music can improve the functioning of the immune system. This shocking benefit of listening to melodies may be beneficial for those with heart disease, lung conditions and even a cold. Music works to reduce cortisol levels in the body. This is beneficial as it reduces the amount of stress a person experiences. The reduction in stress levels is great for those who are looking for a boost in the immune system. It can also raise immune markers in the body which leads to an increase in the production of antibodies.

4. A decrease in seizures has been documented for those who utilize the benefits of music. This amazing benefit has only shown to be effective when patients listened to Mozart. While it is unknown the exact reasoning of this benefit, doctors and scientists believe that the results are due to a change in the cerebral cortex.

5. Music is able to return memories for some people. This can be true for the average person or even Alzheimer’s patients. Listening to music activates both hemispheres of the brain. The feelings that are experienced while listening to a variety of songs are transmitted to the hippocampus of the brain. During this transfer of information, memories may be brought to the forefront of the mind.

6. An increase in spatial reasoning may be seen. While this is one of the features featured in an IQ test, spatial reasoning is important in everyday life. While it is not completely clear on why this occurs, some speculate that certain types of music are able to focus the person who is listening to it in a deep manner.

7. One of the best benefits that may be seen is the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Music is able to stimulate unresponsive areas in the brain that control the body’s movement. Loss of balance and muscle spasms that are common in patients may also be improved.

Overall, listening to music can be extremely beneficial. From the average person, to someone suffering from a debilitating disease or brain damage, everyone can see an improvement.